Carl Zeiss Buys Bio-Rad Unit

HERCULES, Calif., May 28 -- Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., a Hercules, Calif.-based developer of confocal microscopy and multiphoton technology, announced today the sale of its UK-based confocal microscopy business to Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, effective June 1. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Bio-Rad's confocal microscopy products are manufactured in Hemel Hempstead, England.

"This strategic move is part of our ongoing investment in enhancing and broadening the application expertise at Carl Zeiss," said Ulrich Simon, head of the microscopy business group at Carl Zeiss. "The mission is to bring together technological and application know-how to provide support and develop solutions dedicated to the application needs in modern biomedical research."

Carl Zeiss makes a variety of optical and related products, including medical equipment, eyeglass lenses and frames, camera lenses, surveying equipment and riflescope lenses. Its microscopy systems are used for biomolecular research and drug development. Other products include industrial measurement equipment and lenses used in planetariums and astronomical instruments. Independent foundation Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung is the sole owner of the company and its sister firm, Schott Glas.

For more information, visit: www.zeiss.com